■ verb ( past stole ; past participle stolen )
1》 take (something) without permission or legal right and without intending to return it.
↘dishonestly pass off (another person's ideas) as one's own.
2》 give or take surreptitiously or without permission: I stole a look at my watch.
↘move somewhere quietly or surreptitiously.
3》 (in various sports) gain (an advantage, a run, or possession of the ball) unexpectedly or by exploiting the temporary distraction of an opponent.
↘ Baseball run to (a base) while the pitcher is in the act of delivery.
■ noun
1》 informal a bargain.
2》 chiefly N. Amer. an act of ~ing.
↘an idea taken from another work.
↘ Baseball an act of ~ing a base.
Phrases
~ a march on gain an advantage over by taking early action.
~ someone's heart win someone's love.
~ the show attract the most attention and praise.
~ someone's thunder win praise or attention for oneself by pre-empting someone else's attempt to impress.
Derivatives
~er noun
Origin
OE stelan (v.), of Gmc origin.